Polishing (Rubbing)

A processing method in which a hard granular or powdered substance (abrasive grain) or a grinding wheel fixed with a bonding agent is used to rub and finish the workpiece surface while applying a certain pressure to the workpiece to achieve the required finish surface quality. The former type, which uses loose abrasive grains that are not fixed, includes buffing and barrel processing, and is used when the quality of the finished surface is more important than dimensional accuracy. Those using fixed abrasive grains include honing and superfinishing (a processing method to obtain smoother and more precise finished surfaces). Machining methods that use grain abrasives are collectively referred to as abrasive machining.